WANT to book a ski holiday and don’t know where to go: Ski expert Dave Watts, co-editor of the skier’s bible, Where to Ski and Snowboard, reveals 10 top European resorts that are ideal for beginners

1. Alp d’Huez in France. Gentle, snow-sure nursery slopes in a mountain village with some easy long runs make it an ideal location for any first-timer. This large, modern, resort is on a high, sunny plateau east of Grenoble. As a beginner, look for accommodation near one of the two main lifts to make life easy. Ski Solutions offer seven night all-inclusive holidays to Club Med Alpe d’Huez with everything from tuition to ski hire and meals thrown in. skisolutions.com

2. Cervinia is on the Italian side of the Matterhorn and an ideal place to try a sunny, spring ski trip. The cobbled main street is traffic free and the excellent village nursery slopes have a handy ‘moving carpet’ for skiers to step on to ride back up to the top. Crystal Ski Holidays have availability on March 15 for a week’s B&B in three star accommodation from £595pp flying from Stansted. www.crystalski.co.uk

3. Courchevel, France. The resort here is split into distinct areas but the excellent nursery slopes above the Courchevel 1650 village area (Moriond) make it a good beginner’s choice. To keep costs down, be sure to avoid the pricey Michelin starred restaurants higher up the mountain at Courchevel 1850. Reasonably-priced pizza restaurants are available in the 1650 area. Plus, if you decided you don’t like skiing, snowshoeing in the trees and tobogganing are popular here.

GETTY

Courchevel in France is a destination for winter skiing

4. Flaine, in France is a huge snow-sure bowl at the heart of the Grand Massif ski area. It’s a purpose-built resort dating back to the 1970’s and is ideal for families with its pedestrianised streets, ski in/ski out accommodation and excellent entertainment facilities. Plus, the views from the resort are beautiful. See www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com

5. Montegenevre, France. This small village is only 2km from the Italian border and has a rustic village charm with cheerful bars and restaurants lining the street running along the bottom of the nursery slopes. The compact size means, wherever your lodgings are, you’re likely to be close to a lift. Nursery slopes are large, and gentle and fenced off from the faster skiers. However, the proper pistes are close by, making it easy to progress.

6. Passo Tonale in Italy is still at the forefront as best value for money resorts offering easy slopes. Fly from Manchester to the easy slopes on March 21 with Neilson for £465 each to stay half-board at a three star hotel. Beginners ski pack includes hire of equipment, two hours ski lessons a day for six days is extra.

Related articles

7. La Plagne, France actually consists of 11 separate ‘villages’ and is ideal for beginners with great facilities. Just be sure to choose the right area. There are beginners areas in Centre, 1800, Soleil, Aime and Bellecote and in (and above) Montchavin, Les Coches and Montalbert.

8. La Rosiere, France is a traditional chalet-style resort with good beginners slopes and, an ‘exceptionally good’ ski school, run by French ESF company. There are good nursery slopes at both the main village and Les Eucherts – with four free-to-use lifts. Esprit still have availability for family group trips here in March see www.espritski.com/deals/family-savers

GETTY

Passo Tornale is an option in Italy

9. Saas-Fee, Switzerland. This traditional mountain village of narrow streets, lined by old chalets and car-free centre is simply charming. There is a superb, large, out-of-the-way nursery area at the end of the village covered by a special cheap pass.

10. Soldeu, Andorra. The excellent beginner terrain and a ski school with a British-run section, makes Soldeu a top choice. Not as pretty as some of the other resorts but Soldeu’s Episolets nursery area is vast. www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com